What a Creep

What a Creep
Season 22, Episode 2
Ashley Madison

Ashley Madison is a website for people in committed relationships who are looking to have an affair. Its slogan was "Life is short. Have an affair." Obviously, this website is creepy. But on top of that, this website, in which discretion is key, didn’t keep its user data private and enlisted thousands of bots to scam customers out of their money.

Sources for this episode:

• The Ashley Madison Affair (Hulu)
• BBC
• The Daily Beast
• Den of Geek
• Forbes
• The Guardian
• Reuters
• Vice
• Wired
• Wikipedia

Trigger warning: Adultery and suicide
Be sure to follow us on social media. But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

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• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep: Jann Wenner
Season 22, Episode 1

Jann Wenner was the editor of Rolling Stone magazine from 1967 to 2019, covering everything from the Beatles to Woodstock to Live Aid and even Hip Hop at some point in the 1990s. He made millions as rock culture's gatekeeper and key in developing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For decades, critics derided Rolling Stone as a bastion for a white, male-centered worldview with little appreciation for women or people of color. This past week, his interview with the New York Times over the release of his book The Masters: Conversations with Bono, Dylan, Garcia, Jagger, Lennon, Springsteen, and Townshend, which is a compilation of his interviews with seven artists he considers cultural icons that created the “Zeitgeist” that shines brightly to this day.

When asked why he didn’t include any women or people of color, his response:“When I was referring to the zeitgeist, I was referring to Black performers, not female performers,. It’s not that they’re not creative geniuses. It’s not that they’re inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Please, be my guest…The people I interviewed were the kind of philosophers of rock.Of Black artists — you know, Stevie Wonder, genius, right? I suppose when you use a word as broad as “masters,” the fault is using that word. Maybe Marvin Gaye, or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn’t articulate at that level.

Today, we discuss Wenner’s long career and where he winds up in the Creep category. Trigger warnings: Racism, Misogyny, and Sexual Harassment.

Sources for this episode:· Uproxx· The Daily Beast· NBC News· Vulture · NY Times· NPR· CNN· Vanity Fair· The Atlantic·, Billboard· The Guardian· Daily Kos· The Advocate· The Village Voice· Spin magazine editorial· Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine by Joe Hagan· The Masters: Jann Wenner

• Buzzfeed (2017)

Be sure to follow us on social media! But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
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• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep: Russell Brand
Season 21, Episode 10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Brandas a part of our “Quartet of Comedy Creeps” in season eight of our show. He has managed to be exposed as an even BIGGER Creep, with several women alleging he sexually assaulted them over the years. He denies this, blaming the oligarchs in the “MSM” (mainstream media) for setting him up because he likeshttps://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19 as a cure for COVID-19. This guy SUCKS; plenty of evidence backs us up in the sources below.
Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault & rape

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/53598341
Sources for this episode:
- Chanel 4 “Dispatches” https://www.channel4.com/programmes/russell-brand-in-plain-sight-dispatches
- https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/russell-brands-late-night-text-30966457
- The Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-09-18/katy-perry-russell-brand-comments-rape-sexual-assault-allegations
- Daily Mail : https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12542873/Police-unit-set-Jimmy-Savile-scandal-probe-Russell-Brand-case-woman-comes-forward-claim-comedian-switched-nasty-refused-sex-locked-dressing-room.html
- PBS: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/comedian-russell-brands-tour-postponed-after-sexual-assault-allegations
- Pod Save the UK podcast: https://crooked.com/podcast/the-russell-brand-scandal-and-fixing-the-police/
- BBC & The Times joint investigation: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66831593?fbclid=IwAR1ZRnDcKdflzGSJVxkPr2TO-MBAju1gMQAdn2hgXHbdfKA1C99MO-JtaZ4
- Deadline: https://deadline.com/2023/09/russell-brand-roast-battle-uk-katherine-ryan-1235549112/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/09/russell-brand-allegations-aughts-media/675369/
- Vice: https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak599/media-lawyer-explains-russell-brand-allegations
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7IHJ66wj9g
- Vulture: https://www.vulture.com/article/will-russell-brand-face-charges.html
- https://www.nme.com/news/music/andrew-sachs-widow-vows-to-hit-jonathan-ross-over-sachsgate-sex-call-prank-with-russell-brand-1893055
- https://www.salon.com/2013/10/25/i_dont_stand_with_russell_brand_and_neither_should_you/
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/11291163/Russell-Brand-Slippery-vain-and-out-of-touch.html
- https://www.altpress.com/news/russell-brand-wap-critique/#:~:text=Jobs%20%26%20Career%20Opportunities-,Russell%20Brand's%20critique%20of%20%E2%80%9CWAP%E2%80%9D%20went%20down%20as,well%20as%20you'd%20expect&text=Comedian%20Russell%20Brand%20is%20being,what%20he%20had%20to%20say.
- https://www.buzzfeed.com/terrycarter/russell-brand-mansplaining-wap-video-cardi-b
- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12194104
- https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/06/19/russell-brand-katy-perry-dumped-text-divorce_n_3463470.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJnxcyyCfv2MLsVkIr6haMQEXhpEQDcdSOdVcCiJW_1eIkZob_zT4I9abWivEaf_h7vOl8i1PUjbVKTLusbXq3BzeUjoWOCyg9HkaMph0QoCRkHCaaDMsWiJrQ76HVwQo2XQM0g5E20CxUP08YBbju08RA2BEyuNyhGW7aloFis0
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Booky-Wook-Russell-Brand/dp/0340936177
- https://www.amazon.com/BOOKY-WOOK-2-Russell-Brand/dp/0061958085
- https://slate.com/culture/2023/09/russell-brand-allegations-documentary-in-plain-sight-rape.html
- https://nypost.com/2023/09/19/russell-brand-sexual-assault-allegations-live-updates/
- https://nypost.com/2023/09/19/russell-brand-sexual-assault-allegations-live-updates/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66882644
- https://people.com/russell-brand-suggested-a-15-year-old-have-a-sex-themed-birthday-party-7971829
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwK5AflyJMY
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXftKwSKKEk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvDyLX1fiOs
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7MP5iswXTw
- https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-deep-state-didnt-frame-russell-brand-you-idiots
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/21/bbc-liz-kershaw-russell-brand-toxic-culture-witness/
- https://people.com/russell-brand-controversy-timeline-7972103
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/19/arts/russell-brand-career.html
- https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/russell-brand-bob-geldof-katy-perry-dispatches-b2413316.htmlline
Organizations that support sexual assault survivors
- http://www.evawintl.org/
- https://www.equalitynow.org/
- http://gnws.org/
- https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/
- https://www.hrw.org/
- http://centers.rainn.org
- https://www.endsexualviolence.org/
- https://www.trynova.org/
- RAINN and https://centers.rainn.org/

Be sure to follow us on social media! But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

- Subscribe to us on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-a-creep/id1460298336
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
- Facebook: Join the private group!
- Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
- Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
- Email: [email protected]
- We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/
- Our website is http://www.whatacreeppodcast.com/
- Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep: Hilaria Baldwin
Special Guest: Kristen Meinzer “Daily Fail”
Season 21, Episode 9

Sonia Mansfield is still in Ireland having the time of her life, but fear not cohorts--we have an excellent special guest to help us call out some Creeps! Kristen Meinzer (How To Be Fine / Daily Fail / By The Book / Movie Therapy with Rafer & Kristen Author, So You Want to Start a Podcast / How to Be Fine) discusses one of our most confounding subjects. Hilaria Baldwin was a popular yoga instructor in NYC when she met and married one of our Creep subjects, Alec Baldwin.

Between posting intricate (and lingerie-heavy) poses on Instagram and appearing on several shows as a Spanish cooking expert, something lurked underneath her heavy accent (“How you say, ‘cucumber?”) and European. She was a Boston girl named Hilary Hayward Thomas who was making up a whole persona.

Sources for this episode:

• Alec Baldwin on Rachael Ray talking about her Spanish accent
• Hilaria using a fake accent for the paparazzi
• Page Six
• VOX
• Insider
• Glamour
• Daily Mail
• Vulture
• Vogue
• New York Times
• LA Magazine
• The Cut
• NY Mag
• Vanity Fair
• Jezebel
• Vulture
• TODAY show Hilaria makes gazpacho!

Be sure to follow us on social media! But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
• We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#
• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep: Special Ep “Creep or Not a Creep?”
Special Guest: Alicia of Trashy Divorces
Season 21, Episode 8

While cohort Sonia Mansfield invades Ireland with her combination vacation/work trip--the Creepy train keeps moving with our special guest, Alicia of the Trashy Divorces podcast, to first talk about the Joe Jonas and Steve Harvey divorces, which sent us reeling. Then, we get into our main subject--writer Truman Capote (1924-1984) and whether or not he was a Creep. From his peripatetic childhood to being the king of party givers to his eventual decline due to alcoholism--Capote lived a BIG life.

We discuss his early writing career, his friendship with Harper Lee, the making of In Cold Blood, and his betrayal of his “swans.” He achieved the greatest heights as a writer but died bitter, broken, and lonely at the age of 59.

Harper Lee (1926-2016) became a recluse who only released one book after her Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird with 2015’s controversial Go Set a Watchman. (Margo has an interesting story about a Creepy computer guy and Harper Lee!) Alicia’s other podcasts are Trashy Royals and Done & Dunne.

Sources for this episode:

• Truman Capote Wikipedia
• Other Voices, Other Rooms
• Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders

Be sure to follow us on social media! But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
• We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#
• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep:
Billy McFarland-Fyre Festival Creep
Season 10, Episode 7 (2024 Replay & Update!)

This week, we are taking a short break to celebrate Labor Day, a three-day long weekend dedicated to honoring the hardworking people of our country. However, we have some important news about one of the biggest scams of recent years. Believe it or not, the notorious Fyre Festival is returning; unfortunately, people are still buying into the hype. Fyre Fest is already sold out for its upcoming 2024 event.

On April 28, 2017, a tweet by Trevor DeHaas, also known as @trev4president, went viral. The tweet included a photo of a meager meal consisting only of bread, cheese, and undressed salad with the caption, "Here's the dinner they fed us tonight. Literally sliced bread, cheese, and salad with no dressing #fyrefraud #fyrefestival #dumpsterfyre." This was just the beginning of the Fyre Festival fraud, which 25-year-old Fyre Media

CEO and founder Billy McFarland masterminded. The festival left hundreds of people stranded and millions of dollars unpaid. Join us as we delve into the story of one of the youngest and biggest fraudsters we have covered on this show.
Sources for this episode:

• Fyre Festival Wikipedia
• Fyre Fest Intro/First Clip
• NME Ja Rule sells Cheese Sandwich for NFT
• BBC
• CNBC
• CNBC "American Greed"
• Washington Post
• Netflix: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
• Vulture (NY Magazine)
• Vanity Fair
• ABC "Where Are They Now?"
• Vogue (First-person account)
• Hulu: Fyre Fraud
• Daily Yo
• NME
• Fyre Festival 2024 Official Site
• EW 2023 Fyre Festival
• USA Today (2024)

Be sure to follow us on social media! But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
• We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#
• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep
Season 21, Episode 7
The Boy Scouts of America

Welcome to today's episode, which may be a topic of controversy for some listeners. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a highly respected youth organization with a long-standing history of over 100 years. Many renowned Americans, such as Steven Spielberg, Neil Armstrong, Gerald Ford, and Mike Bloomberg, have participated in BSA programs. As a matter of fact, a son of a friend of mine achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, which is an outstanding accomplishment.
The organization's motto is "Do a good turn daily," its influence on American culture is significant. Nevertheless, there have been several scandals within the BSA, and numerous individuals feel that the organization has not handled these situations appropriately. In today's episode, we will explore these issues in depth.

Content Warning: Sexual Abuse and Grooming

Sources for this episode:· CNN· Washington Post· USA Today· USA Today 2· Reuters· Bloomberg· Boy Scouts of America Are Restructuring.org· NPR· NPR 2· New York Times· CBS News 2020· Los Angeles Times· Los Angeles Times 2· Los Angeles Times 3· The Boy Scouts of America (Wikipedia page)· NBC News· NY Daily News· NY Post (Troop 666 2001)

• TODAY show

Be sure to follow us on social media. But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
• We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#
• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep
Season 21, Episode 6
Shein & Temu

If you scroll through your social media channels, you’ve probably seen ads and sponsored posts about Shein and Temu.

Shein mainly sells fashion and clothes, and Temu offers just about everything: clothing, appliances, furniture, even power tools. Both are online retailers based in China.

And they have a few other things in common, too, including accusations of violating labor laws and stealing designs. Super cool stuff!

Sources for this episode include:

• Shein on Better Business Bureau
• Temu on Better Business Bureau
• BBC
• CBS
• CNBC
• CNN
• Elle
• Ethically Dressed
• Ethically Dressed: 30+ designers that Shein stole from
• Forbes
• Good On You
• The Guardian
• The Mary Sue
• The New York Times
• Public Eye
• TechCrunch
• Shein’s Wikipedia
• Temu’s Wikipedia

Links to help Maui Wildfire victims:
Via the Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/maui-wildfires-how-to-help/
Via the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/08/12/hawaii-news/how-to-assist-victims-of-mauis-deadly-wildfires/

Be sure to follow us on social media. But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
• We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#
• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep
Season 21, Episode 5
Below Deck Down Under & The Biggest Loser


Reality TV is having an awakening right now; Bethenny Frankel announced on her Instagram that she is entering the fight for reality show casts and crews to unionize. She is working with top-notch lawyers Mark Geragos and Bryan Freedman, who sent a letter to NBC that they are planning a class action lawsuit against the network with over 80 people signing on so far to talk about mistreatment while filming Bravo shows for the last 15+ years. This is BIG news.

Today, we are discussing two shows under the NBCUniversal/Bravo umbrella accused of mistreating their casts--Below Deck and The Biggest Loser.

Below Deck Down Under Handles Sexual Assault Properly (for once!)
https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/-deck-crew-praised-handling-consent-sexual-misconduct-luke-jones-rcna98841

Ashton Pinnear threatens Kate Chastain with violence

How it is listed on the Bravo page to this day! "Ashton Pienaar Gets In Kate Chastain's Face After a Question Throws Him Into a Rage. Ashton loses it when Kate asks about his mother."

Sources for The Biggest Loser:
The Biggest Loser Wikipedia
The Atlantic
NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/business/media/25loser.html
The Guardian
New York Post
KQED
Distractify
People
Nikki Swift
Cracked
ET Online
ET Online 2
Breaking Muscle
Be sure to follow us on social media. But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
• We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#
• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez created our logo. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud

What a Creep
Season 21, Episode 4
Mark Wahlberg

Can you feel it, baby? We can, too. It’s time to talk about former rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg. From Marky Mark and Calvin Klein ads to BOOGIE NIGHTS and TRANSFORMER movies, Wahlberg has done a lot, including hate crimes. Let’s talk about it.
Sources for this episode:

• Biography
• Cracked
• The Independent
• Nicki Swift
• ReelRundown
• UpRoxx
• Us Weekly
• Vanity Fair
• Wikipedia

Trigger warning: Racism and homophobia
Be sure to follow us on social media. But don’t follow us too closely … don’t be a creep about it!

• Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreepPod @CreepPod
• Facebook: Join the private group!
• Instagram @WhatACreepPodcast
• Visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/whatacreep
• Email: [email protected]
• We’ve got merch here! https://whatacreeppodcast.threadless.com/#
• Our website is www.whatacreeppodcast.com
• Our logo was created by Claudia Gomez-Rodriguez. Follow her on Instagram @ClaudInCloud